Schools

Aug. 5 Deadline For Fisher College Expansion Comments

Neighborhood Association of Back Bay is "strongly opposed" to the college's efforts to add 177 new dormitory beds in Back Bay.

The Neighborhood Association of Back Bay is alerting residents they have until Aug. 5 to submit comments to the Boston Redevelopment Authority regarding Fisher College's plans to expand in Back Bay.

NABB is "strongly opposed" to a plan Fisher College presented to the BRA back in June regarding their expansion. That plan can be found in full in this Institutional Master Plan Notification Form filed by Fisher College.

In March, Fisher College acquired 10/11 Arlington St. and in the notification form said they were seeking to convert it to "institutional use." According to NABB, the Arlington Street location would house Fisher's administrative offices allowing the current 116 Beacon St. location to be used for new dormitory beds.

In all, Fisher College would add 300 new students, 177 total new dormitory beds to Beacon Street, a two-story rear addition to 118 Beacon St. as well as a roof terrace behind 104 to 114 Beacon St.

Fisher College wrote in the form that "new space will enable Fisher to address its existing space shortages and to accommodate increasing demand for dormitory beds as its student body grows over the next decade."

According to the college, it plans to "continue its transition to a predominately baccalaureate college and will introduce several master’s degree programs that complement our undergraduate strengths. In the process, we will become a somewhat larger institution with even more robust academic offerings and a larger complement of faculty."

Comments on the project can be made by Aug. 5 to:

Katelyn Sullivan, Project Manager
Boston Redevelopment Authority
Boston City Hall - 9th Floor
One City Hall Square
Boston, MA  02201-1007

At a June 26 NABB Public Meeting, NABB Chair Howard Kassler made a public statement about the project that can be read here.

In the statement, Kassler said the plan "completely disregards established and longstanding zoning and building use standards."

"The College’s desire to increase enrollment, dormitories and other facilities around its Beacon Street location is wholly unsuitable for this residential neighborhood," Kassler said. "It runs counter to existing City of Boston policies that strongly discourage expansion of educational institutions in the historic district of the Back Bay."

More NABB position statements on the Fisher College plan can be found here.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here